What does the term "soft times" refer to in fire investigations?

The term "soft times" in fire investigations refers to witness statements that provide approximate times rather than precise, exact timings. In many fire investigation scenarios, witnesses may have difficulty recalling the exact timing of events due to stress or the chaotic nature of a fire incident. This can lead to statements where individuals provide rough estimates or vague references to when things occurred. These approximations, while not exact, are still valuable for investigators as they can help to establish a timeline of events and provide context to the investigation.

Understanding "soft times" as approximate times is critical for investigators, as they analyze multiple accounts and try to piece together an objective timeline from the subjective experiences of witnesses. This information can be pivotal in determining the sequence of events leading up to and during the fire, which is essential for identifying the cause and origin of the fire.